Longitudinally adjustable heel locking device on a ski-binding

ABSTRACT

A conventional release plate of a safety ski-binding is provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced transverse bores. A flexible heel locking member forming a loop around the heel of the ski-boot has its two ends at either side of said release plate provided with a locking bolt bent at right angles. The ends of the two locking bolts can be introduced from both sides into one or the other of said transverse bores in the release plate and are releasingly secured therein by means of bayonet union means.

United States Patent Gertsch et a].

[ Mar. 14, 1972 [54] LONGITUDINALLY ADJUSTABLE HEEL LOCKING DEVICE ON ASKI- BINDING [72) Inventors: Ernst Gertsch, Wengen; Ulrich Gertsch,

lnterlaken, both of Switzerland Gertsch, A.G., Wengen, Lauterbrunnen,Switzerland [22] Filed: Jan. 23,1970

[21] Appl.No.: 5,185

[73] Assignee:

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data May 2, 1969 Switzerland ..6724/69[52] U.S. Cl ..280/l 1.35 P [51] [58] Field ofSearch ..280/11.35

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,284,092 11/1966 Rumaner..280/11.35 CA 3,410,568 11/1968 Wiley ..280/l1.35 CA 3,489,424 1/1970Gertsch et al. ..280/] 1.35 CA FORElGN PATENTS OR APPLlCATlONS 515,2422/1955 Italy ..280/l 1.35 HA 84,635 10/1935 Sweden ..280/l 1.35 B810,088 12/1936 France ..280/l1.35 B 378,752 7/1964 Switzerland ..280/l1.35 H

Primary Examiner-Benjamin Hersh Assistant Examiner-Milton L. SmithAttorney-Werner W. Kleeman [57] ABSTRACT A conventional release plate ofa safety ski-binding is provided with a plurality of longitudinallyspaced transverse bores. A flexible heel locking member forming a looparound the heel of the ski-boot has its two ends at either side of saidrelease plate provided with a locking bolt bent at right angles. Theends of the two locking bolts can be introduced from both sides into oneor the other of said transverse bores in the release plate and arereleasingly secured therein by means of bayonet union means.

4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures Patented March 14, 1972 $649,039

5 g 6 603 cm 048/6 G'EKT OI/ INVENTOR.

BYMQZ/T LONGITUDINALLY ADJUSTABLE HEEL LOCKING DEVICE ON A SKI-BINDINGThe present invention relates to a longitudinally adjustable heellocking device on a ski-binding, wherein at both sides of theski-binding an adjusting bolt is selectively insertable into one of aplurality of transverse bores provided in a release plate. The selectiveinsertion of the adjusting bolt in one of the transverse bores permits arough longitudinal adjustment of the heel locking device, whilst thefine adjustment may be effected by a threaded sleeve screwed to theadjusting bolt. In prior known heel locking devices of this type, theadjusting bolts have been screwed into the transverse bores which areeither threaded or contain a threaded nut, the heel locking device beingadaptable to the width of the boot by the bolts being screwed more orless into the transverse bores, and a lateral adjustment of the bootheel on the ski is also made possible. If a rough longitudinaladjustment is to be made in such a binding, the two lateral adjustingbolts must be screwed completely out of the transverse bore andre-inserted in another transverse bore. This adjustment is thereforecomparatively complicated and time-consuming. Since, however, such arough adjustment of length normally need only be carried out once whenfitting the ski-boot to the ski-binding, this is not usually a seriousdrawback. However, it is a different matter where skis for rent areconcerned, since a rough adj ustment in length of the heel lockingmember is frequently made for adaptation to different boot sizes of thepeople who rent the skis, and should be carried out as quickly aspossible. On the other hand, a side adjustment is less important inrented skis, so that this may be disregarded.

The object of the present invention is the provision of a longitudinallyadjustable heel locking device for ski-bindings permitting a rapid andeasy rough adjustment of the heel locking device to adapt the latter todifferent boot sizes. According to' the invention, this heel lockingdevice comprises a release plate provided with a plurality oflongitudinally spaced, smooth walled transverse bores, a longitudinallyadjustable heel locking member, said heel locking member including twoadjusting bolts each disposed at one side of said release plate forengagement into one of said transverse bores, and bayonet union means onsaid adjusting bolts and transverse bores for releasingly securing saidadjusting bolts in the transverse bores.

The invention will be better understood from the following detaileddescription, reference being made to the accompany-' ing drawings inwhich,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the heel locking device of a ski-bindingaccording to the invention,

F K]. 2 is a perspective view of an adjusting bolt in another position,and

F IG. 3 is a perspective view of a U-shaped additional plate.

Referring now to the drawings, a plate 2 is secured to the ski l in theregion of the boot heel. This plate is provided in its bottom face witha conical recess, not visible in the drawing, into which recess engagesa conical extension (not shown) of the rear end of a release plate 3constituting a component of a safety ski-binding known per se andforming no part of the invention. The release plate 3 is provided in itsrear portion with four continuous, smooth transverse bores 4. On bothsides of the release plate 3, an are 5' of a rectangularly bentadjusting bolt 5 may be inserted into any of these bores 4. The otherarm 5 of the adjusting bolt 5 has screwed thereon a threaded sleeve 6 towhich is fixed a heel locking member 7 known per se. By turning thethreaded sleeves 6 in one or the other direction, a fine adjustment inlength of the heel locking member 7 is possible. A locking pin 8 of abayonet joint is located on the arm 5 of the adjusting bolt 5. The notch9 of this bayonet joint is formed on a side flange 10 of a U-shapedadditional plate 10, whose middle portion is resting on the releaseplate 3. A spacing member 11 is formed on each side of the additionalplate 10, so that when the additional plate 10 is placed on the releaseplate 3, a gap 12 exists between the side parts 10: and the side face ofthe release plate 3. in which gap the locking pin 8 IS pivotally movabletogether with the bolt 5.

For a rough adjustment of length of the heel locking member 7, thislatter is pivoted about the axis of the transverse bore 4, until theadjusting bolt 5 assumes the position shown in FIG. 2, in which the arm5' can be removed from the transverse bore 4, since in this position thelocking pin 8 can pass through the notch 9. The additional plate 10 isnow moved along the release plate 3 until the notch 9 of the plate [0arrives in alignment with another transverse bore 4, so that theadjusting bolt 5 of the heel locking member 7 can be inserted into thisother transverse bore 4. After the locking member has been pivoted intoposition shown in FIG. 1, the arms 5 can no longer be removed from thetransverse bore 4, since the locking pin 8 prevents such removal.

The additional plate 10 could also be constructed so that its centerportion can be inserted beneath the release plate 3 and the sideportions 10 are directed upwardly. Furthermore, the additional plate 10may be so constructed that its side portions extend over all fourtransverse bores 4 and are provided with four bores having notches 9.Furthermore, instead of the side portions 10 provided with notches 9located on a separate additional plate 10, the notched side portion 10could be formed integral with the release plate.

We claim:

1. A longitudinally adjustable heel locking device on a skibinding,comprising a release plate provided with a plurality of longitudinallyspaced, smooth walled transverse bores, a longitudinally adjustable heellocking member, said heel locking member including two adjusting boltseach disposed at one side of said release plate for engagement into oneof said transverse bores, and bayonet union means onsaid adjusting boltsand transverse bores for releasingly securing said adjusting bolts inthe transverse bores, said bayonet union means including a notchprovided in -a side flange disposed in laterally spaced relation fromthe sidewall of said release plate, and a locking pin provided on saidadjusting bolt of the heel locking member, said locking pin, in lockingposition of the heel locking member, being situated in the space betweensaid side flange and the sidewall of said release plate.

2. A heel locking device according to claim 1, in which said sideflanges provided with a notch for the passage of said locking pin of thebayonet union means are formed on a U- shaped plate extending acrosssaid release plate.

3. A heel locking device according to claim 2, in which said U-shapedplate is supported by said release plate to be longitudinally movabletherealong, for bringing said notches on the side flanges of theU-shaped member into alignment with said transverse bores in the releaseplate.

4. A heel locking device according to claim 2, in which said U-shapedplate is provided with spacing members to determine the width of saidspace between the side flanges of said -U-shaped plate and theassociated wall of the release plate.

1. A longitudinally adjustable heel locking device on a skibinding,comprising a release plate provided with a plurality of longitudinallyspaced, smooth walled transverse bores, a longitudinally adjustable heellocking member, said heel locking member including two adjusting boltseach disposed at one side of said release plate for engagement into oneof said transverse bores, and bayonet union means on said adjustingbolts and transverse bores for releasingly securing said adjusting boltsin the transverse bores, said bayonet union means including a notchprovided in a side flange disposed in laterally spaced relation from thesidewall of said release plate, and a locking pin provided on saidadjusting bolt of the heel locking member, said locking pin, in lockingposition of the heel locking member, being situated in the space betweensaid side flange and the sidewall of said release plate.
 2. A heellocking device according to claim 1, in which said side flanges providedwith a notch for the passage of said locking pin of the bayonet unionmeans are formed on a U-shaped plate extending across said releaseplate.
 3. A hEel locking device according to claim 2, in which saidU-shaped plate is supported by said release plate to be longitudinallymovable therealong, for bringing said notches on the side flanges of theU-shaped member into alignment with said transverse bores in the releaseplate.
 4. A heel locking device according to claim 2, in which saidU-shaped plate is provided with spacing members to determine the widthof said space between the side flanges of said U-shaped plate and theassociated wall of the release plate.